Transplanting implement



Sept. 15, 1931. I Y DOHRN 1,823,789

TRANSPLANTING IMPLEMENT Filed April 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jnren/or PJJ ATTYS.

vSept. 15, 1931. P. H. DOHRN 1,823,789

TRANSPLANTING IMPLEMENT Filed April 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W WW, M

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30' justed. v Fig. is an elevation of the. fork shown n Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNHTED STATES.

PETER rinnivmnn 130mm, or wnssnnnnnn i, ens-MAN? TRANSPLANTING mrnnivinnr- Application filed April 16, 1929, Serial -No.'355,576, and in Germany Aprilxli), 1928.

This invention refers to a forklike implement adapted to be used inconnection with transplanting plants, particularly small or young plants standing in rows. This imple- 5 ment or fork may be made of steel or other suitable material and comprises three, four.

a 1 handle.

or more prongs attached to Smaller forks are provided with three prongs and a comparatively small handle, while the larger forks are given a larger number of prongs and a long handle to hold it with both hands. When there, are fourprongs, these are arranged to encompass a rectangle or trapezium, while the three prongs of smaller 1 forks are triangularly distributed. The

number and lengths of the prongs depend on the circumstances and the purpose'for which the fork is to be used. The same is true with regard to the shape of the prongs, which may be round or square or more or less flat and may be perfectly straight or more or less flexed.

Fig. 1 illustrates a transplanting forkhav ing three prongs.

transplanting fork of a larger design, having four prongs. V. 1

Fig. 4 is an upper view of a modified fork, the prongs being adapted to be laterally ad- F ig. 4;.

Fig. 6 is an end viewof the fork. shown in.

. Figures 4 and 5. 7 is an upper view and Fig. 8 an end view of another odification.

The fork shown in Fig. 1 is provided with three prongs, a, b and 0 attached to a handle 4- f 0f comparatively short length to adapt the implement to be held by one hand. When piercing into the earth on both sides of the plants two prongs a and c engage the plants on the two sides and the third '1; under the 4 plants in a vertical level. intermediate the levels of the prongs a and c;

The forks shown in Figures 2 and provided with four prongs a, b, c and dare designed for heavier work the prong 0 being 56 "situated opposite a and d opposite 6. Parsizeand amount of the plants. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective viewsof a earth eventually mixed with manure.

ticularly the fork shown ii1 Fig 3 may be used for transplanting larger, plants, the.

prongs being square in cross-section, Wl'lllGrlll erablylonger for enabling it to be gripped by both hands. For particularly heavy work r the prongsmay be made in one piece with ,socket 9, into which a long stick or handle 7? may fit, eventually nailed thereto in well Own manner. 7

The implement iswell adapted to trans; plant long rows of plants by a single grip so as to enable of performingwork three to five times asquick as when the plants ,are transplanted singly.

1 When transplantingin rows the roots of the delicate plants .canonly be injured or torn on two sides, While on the two other sides, situated within the row, the y roots are fully i further without being. disturbed. The distance between the prongs as well as the size 1 and lengthof the fork-ismade tosuit to the well protected and cangrow The"mplem'ent is pierced into the soil from below. By turning and sidewise-lift,

ingthe fork the plants are then elevatedin I from the sidelof the bed or the like, thatis-froml .theend of. a row of plants in, such manner.

thattheroots are gripped from the-sides and pared}. In this way those parts of the plants,

which are above the groundfare not touched.

at all and,thereforejremam perfectly uninjured. Even in cases, where the plants are from oneanot-her with greaterfacility and quicker and perfectly uninjured.

Eventuall it may be of advantage to half of the plants of a field to remainin the not intended to beplanted again in a row. the taking out 111 a row is ofgreat advantage, 'because'the single plants can be separated,

.transplant onlyfevery second row and allow heretofore. The grooves created hereby be filled bythe-same fork with nourishing.

' It maybe of advantage to make the prongs adjustable for adapting the fork for different breadths of rows and different large plants. Modifications enabling adjustment of this description are shown in Figs. 4: to 8. Two angles h and 2" provided withslots 70 and m are connected by bolts y with a plate or bar n, to which the handle 7" or socket respectively is fastened. The prongs a and d are connected by weld or the like with one angle 72 and the prongs c andb with the other angle 6. VVhenit is desired to adjust the implement for smaller or larger plants, the bolts j are loosened and the angles shifted against one another in one direction or the other, as the case may be, and then the bolts screwed tight again.

In horticulture or gardening, where many different kinds of plants are cultivated, it may be of advantage to adjust the fork also as to height; In such case it is advisable to make the'upper prongs so adjustable. A construction to enable such adjustment is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. I

The angles in and z' are provided for some what over half of their height with flanges h and 1" respectively, provided with a. longitudinal vertical slot 0, a similar slot being arranged on the back of the angles opposite the slot 0. The breadth of the slots corre-' sponds to the thickness of the prongs a and c, which project therethrough, and are provided with cross-pins p close to the flanges h and i, and preferably having a knife-edge bearingfhereagainst. The endsof the prongs a and c are rounded and threaded to be engaged by nuts 1" the angle ibeing j oggled to givefroom to the nut between the two.

angles. The outer faces of the flanges h and i are serrated or provided. with notches 's which, if at equal'distances apart, may form a kind of scale fordetermining the adjust.

ment of the prongs as to height. These notches serve for engagement of the pins 791,

grasp the prong when adjusted.

I claim 1. A transplanting implement comprisinga handle, two sets'of prongs mount-ed in'pa'rallel planes, and'two angleson eachof which a prong'of each ofthe two. setsismounted, which angles are adj ustably attached to said handle. 1

2. A transplanting implement comprising a handle, two .sets of prongs mounted in pare allel planes, and two angleslon eac hof which .a prong of each of the twosets. is mounted,

which angles areadjustably attached to said handle in lateral direction, the prongs of one of the sets being moreover attached ina direction arranged at rightangles to the said lateral direction :and .adjustably to said angles. v i

. 3. As a separate article of manufacture for hand use, a complete implement: for transplanting a plurality of plants arranged in a row, comprising a plurality of rows of elongated prongs, mounted on a single handle, the said prongs being fixed both with respect to the handle and to each other at least one of the last-mentioned rows comprising at least two, substantially parallel prongs, the said rows of prongs lying in substantially parallel planes. V

' 4. As a separate article of manufacture for hand use, a complete implement for transplanting a plurality of plants arranged in a row, comprising a handle, a plurality of rows of elongated prongs in superposed, substantially parallel planes, mounted integrally with respect to each other and to the said plantinga plurality of plants arranged in a row comprising a plurality of rows of unobstructedelongated prongs, mounted on a single handle, the saidprongs being fixed both with respect to the handle and to each other, each row comprising at least two prongs, the said rows of prongs lying in substantially parallel planes.

6, As a separate article of manufacture for hand use, a complete implement for transplanting a plurality of plants arranged in a row comprising a handle, a plurality of rows of elongated prongs mounted integrally on said handle, the prongs being fixed with respect to each other each row comprising at least two prongs, the said rows of prongs lying in substantially parallel planes, the corresponding prongs of each row lying in substantially the sameplane, the said'planes beingsub stantially parallel: a

7 An implement for transplanting a plu- I ralit-y of plants arranged in a row, comprlswhen the nuts 1" are screwed tight, to firmlysaid rowsbeing offset with respect to the said handle.

' 8. An implement for transplanting a plurality ofplants arranged in a row, comprising ahandIeQand a plurality of rows of elongated prongs, at least one of the said rows comprising at least two substantially parallel prongs, the said' rows of prongs lying in substantially parallel planes and one of'the said rows being offset with'respect to'the said handle, the said" prongs being substantially immovable with respect both to each other and tO'the handle when the said implement is assembled for operation.

9. Theprocess of transplanting plantslaid in rows comprising simultaneously cutting away the soil around the roots and sides of several adjacent plants in a row and mechanically gripping the plants adjacent the 7 sides and bottom thereof, then transferring the plants While so held to their new habitat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PETER HERMANN DOHRN. 

